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Rich Family

In 1802 Shirley House became the residence of the Reverend Sir Charles Rich who had previously lived at Grove Place in Nursling. Rich was originally named Charles Bostock but took his new surname from his wife, Mary Frances Rich, only daughter of General Sir Robert Rich, fifth baronet in a lineage dating back to the 15th century. When the last of that line, George Rich, died in 1799 the baronetcy would have become extinct had not Charles Bostock assumed the surname Rich in 1790 and been created a baronet in 1791. He lived at Shirley House until his death in 1824 and was probably responsible for improvements and enlargements to the house. His widow lived at the house until her death in 1833 after which the estate passed to her son, Sir Charles Henry Rich, who subsequently sold it for development to a local syndicate.